Fox Footy Jury: Experts give their verdict on the plan to slash AFL list sizes to 35 players

What is the right number of players for clubs to have on their lists beyond this year? With the AFL potentially moving towards just 35, the Fox Footy Jury gives its take on the issue.

What AFL list sizes should look like in 2021 has been a hotly debated topic over recent months.

It is expected list sizes could be cut from 44 players to as few as 35 from next year.

So we went to three Fox Footy experts and asked: Is a list size of 35 a more workable model, or does it alienate too many good players?

LEIGH MONTAGNA

TWO-TIME ALL-AUSTRALIAN FOR ST KILDA

Absolutely this is a more workable model. History tells us the top 30-32 players on each list average 98 per cent of the games played per season anyway. The rest of the clubs’ playing list that play just two per cent of games per season are also generally the ones taking up the most resources at football clubs in areas like player development, welfare and strength and conditioning. With less football department staff moving forward, this model makes sense as it then becomes more manageable for clubs, improves the overall quality of playing lists and creates competitive tension at the bottom end with less spots available.

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Will AFL clubs still take risks on Irish recruits if list sizes are cut to 35 players? Picture: Getty Images

MARK RICCIUTO

2003 BROWNLOW MEDAL WINNER FOR ADELAIDE

I worry about the list sizes reducing from 38 plus six rookies to just 35 and why we are doing it. What happens to category B players? How do we attract them from other sports? Irishman? Rookies? They make up 20% of premiership teams. Not anymore.

How do you cater for injuries? How do you structure your list? Do you have 30 that can play plus 2-3 from the recent draft and the same from the year before? If they don’t make it after two years, are they dumped? What about rucks? There won’t be many drafted, just the standouts? What do clubs do with the players that don’t get a game? They won’t have their own second’s sides. Do they align to one team or spread them throughout an SANFL? About 80-90 players are usually drafted and that will go to 40-50. What happens to the 30 that miss out? You can’t tell me they will get developed better at a lower league with less resources than what they had in 2019. What about their welfare with no welfare staff? It seems like a brutal decision with lots of losers.

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DWAYNE RUSSELL

PORT ADELAIDE AND GEELONG HERO

The best of everything is at an AFL club. The best coaching, the best facilities, the best medical staff, plus dietitians, psychologists, welfare managers – the list goes on. So if you cut list sizes by seven players per list, that’s over 100 players Australia-wide getting a lower quality of help to become as good as they can possibly be. List size reduction might make financial sense right now. But kids are going to get better – faster – if they spend a year or two at an AFL club before they get a game, as opposed to spending those two development years at a lower level club?

Originally published as Fox Footy Jury: Experts give their verdict on the plan to slash AFL list sizes to 35 players